Pipe and tile handling device.



W. JOHNSON. PIPE AND TILE HANDLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 10, 1913.

1 1 00,019, Patented June 16, 1914.

y I I 'I s Atto rn eys UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J OHNS ON, OF ASTQRIA, SOUTH DAKOTA.

v PIPE AND TILE HANDLING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 16, 1914.

Application filed October 10, 1913. Serial No. 794,475.

appliance for lowering or elevating pipes,

tiles, and the like, and aims to provide a novel and improved device of that character.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a device of the nature indicated, which shall be so constructed and operable as to permit of the same being readily engaged to or released from the interior of a pipe, tile, or the like, the present device also being adjustable to accommodate various diameters or sizes of pipes, tiles, et cetera.

It is also within the scope of the present invention to provide an appliance of the character specified, which will be comparatively simple, substantial and inexpensive in construction, as well as simple, convenient and efficient in its use.

lVith the foregoing general objects outlined, and with other objects in view, which will be apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the present invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of'construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scopeof what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention has been illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying away, and the clutch arms being illustrated in released position in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

provided an elongated body 1 which is disposed horizontally, and which has its ends bifurcated, as at 2. Clutch levers 8 are fulcrumed or pivoted within the bifurcations 2 by means of removable fulcrum or pivot pins or members 1, each of the levers 3 being provided with a series of apertures 5 for the reception of the respective pivots 4 in order that the levers may be adjusted to accommodate various diameters or sizes of pipe, tile, and the like. The levers 3 diverge upwardly, and their upper ends are equipped wvith toothed or serrated jaw faces 6, while the lower arms of the levers are connected by means of the contractile coiled wire spring 7, which tends to spread or separate the upper jaw arms of the levers.

The device is designed to be carried by a suspension cable or rope 8, the lower end of which may be engaged either to a clevis 9 carried by the central orintermediate portion of the body'l, or to an arched cord or wire 10 connected at its ends to the lower or inner arms of the levers 3. The branches or limbs of the cord 10 arepreferably passed through the bifurcations 2. V

The upper or outer ends of the levers, having the jaws 6, are connected by means of a suitable cord or flexible member 11, the in- :termediate port-ion of which is attached to the lower end of a jerk line or cable 12, the

- suspension cableS and the jerk line being of any suitable length and being manipulated in any suitable manner to carry out the results desired.

A suitable weight 13 is suspended from the body 1 by means of a cord 14 which is attached to the intermediate portion of the body, and which weights the body sufficiently in order that when the device is supported by the jerk line 12, the weight will overcome the tension of the spring 7, in order that the upper ends or arms ofthe levers 3 will be drawn together, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

When the present device is employed for lowering a'pipe, tile or the like, the body 1 is inserted into the end of the pipe, so that the spring7 will force the jaws 6 into engagement with opposite sides of the pipe, which will permit the pipe to be suspended by the cable 8.

When the device is employed in connection with heavy objects, the suspension cable 8 is preferably connected directly to the body In carrying out the invention, there is' 1, by means of th clevis 9, whereby a normal leverage will be gained, and when the device is employed in connection with light objects, the suspension cable 8 is preferably attached to the cord 10, in order that a purchase may be gained upon the levers 3 to compensate for the decreased weight of the object, as over heavier objects. It is apparent that the levers 3 may be adjusted longitudinally to accommodate various diameters or sizes of pipe, tile, and the like, the toothed or serrated jaws 6 being adapted to properly engage or bite the pipe to permit of the suspension of the pipe from the clutch arms. After the device has been applied as above indicated, the pipe, tile or other object may be readily lowered by means of the cable 8, and when the pipe has been lowered to the point desired, the pipe may be released, by slackening the cable 8, and by drawing the jerk line 12 upwardly, which will release the jaws 6, in order that the device may be drawn out of the pipe for a new operation. The present device may thus be employed for lowering sewer pipe or tile, in ditches, or for kindred purposes.

Conversely, the present device may be employed for elevating pipes, tiles, and the like, the clutch arms being readily let down into the interior of an object, by suspending the same by means of the jerk line 12, and after the clutch arms are let into the object the jerk line 12 may be slackened, which will cause the jaws to engage the object, so that the object may be raised through the medium of the suspension cable.

. The present appliance may also be employed as a fishing tool for Artesian wells, or as a grapple for various purposes.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1."In a device of the character described, a body, a pair of levers fulcrumed thereto, a contractile spring connecting certain ends of the levers, the other ends of the levers having jaws, the last mentioned ends of the levers having means for the attachment of a jerk line, and the body and first mentioned end portions of the levers, each having means for the attachment of a suspension cable.

2. In a device of the character described, an elongated body, a pair of levers fulcrumed to the ends of the body and diverging upwardly, a contractile spring connecting the lower arms of the lex ers, the upper arms of the levers havin jaws, means connecting the upper arms ot the levers for the attachment of a jerk line, and means for suspending the body and lower arms of the levers.

3. In a device of the character described, a body, a pair of upwardly diverging levers fulcrumed thereto, the upper arms of the levers having jaws, means connecting the said arms for the attachment of a jerk line, and means connecting the lower arms of the levers for the attachment of a suspension cable.

4. In a device of the character described, an elongated body having bifurcated ends, clutch levers fulcrumed in the bifurcated ends of the body, certain arms of the levers having jaws, means connecting the said arms of the levers for the attachment of a jerk line, and means connecting the other arms of the levers for the attachment of a suspension cable, the last mentioned means passing through the bifurcations of the body.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

HOSEAS HINDERAKU, HERBERT I-I. HANSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents,

' Washington, D. 0. 

